Daily Republican., 1887-06-07
THIRD EDITION.
rho sWimmiug CONTEXT.

The SWIMMING Contest.
Dennis r. Butler, the champion /
tWimmer Of America, opened the SEQ.
on at the Wilmington Natatortum yes-
terdsy afternoon, quite . number OF L. /
dies and children having gathered to |
witness his exhibition. At 80 O'Clock i
Butler entered the water and commen
cad his program Of aquatic sports and |
feats, He ate and smoked under water
and i'm itated variety Of fish, such -
. sea-liop, porpoise, sea COW, hying nsn
and swimming in various attitudes, to|
show the practice OF the noted swim
mers of the day. The most Instructive
of all was his own peculiar mode CT
swimming.
When he swims with the greatest
I'D ,ed his head is apparently under
water, he lays ON his side and his arm
appear to be o revolving wheel BY
which he propels himself along. One
arm Is constantly under the water
while the other works above the water.
When hard pushed he invariably tnkes
t. this mode Of propulsion. by which
ne can outswim his opponent but can
not endure fatigue a. long ~ by the
ordinary mode. He also gave exhibi
tions Of how persons falling into the
water drown, when by little exertion
they might save themselves.
John PIerson, Of this city, the com
petitor of Butler, was also present In
the afternoon and went through with q
number Of gymnastic movements on
the trapezs and with the swinging
rings, occasionally taking . slide down
the tobozgAn into the water, making II
splash in all directions. Pierson VA
the hero of the afternoon for the chill
dren. These exercises will be repeated
avery afternoon from 8 to 8 O'Clock
Ladies' and children will enjoy thu
afternoon exercises. and they will hnt
every convenience provided for comfort
8o'clock last evening the swimmipi
It between Butler and Piers0n VA
Foons 4 to commence, but 1t WAS II
au ,ua a., ar when the men plunget
ino the pool. -rr,,h. ha,va.,
8 aud 10 o'clock, and the H. 80 y
OF go.ss you-please affair, apo "'n y
o'olook Saturday night comes the i..~'
who has made the greatest RECORD 0
MILES will be given 5000 and the LOSE
$50, PieYson is much the more grace
ful swimmer, striking square on
abreast of the water, but he occasion
ally, for o change, strikes out go
fashion," AZ it is called, making tn
spray fly ali around him. Only tina
number Of persons were present ia'
niaht when the con test commenced, br
many more came in afterwards an
others departed.
When the word was given tn sta
both men plunged in, Piersop little
advance. and both struck out AZ II the
were swimming for their lives. Ea(
kept together for several laps, Wit
Butler forged ahead about five or 8
wards. but PlerSon occasionally cios'
mn on him q couple of tinaes, goiI
ahead, when Butler would roll over {
his side, and putting his propellii
arms in motion would take the LEI
again.
Thus each swan back aud four
until tie fourteenth lap was reache
when Butler ran up the ladder and In
his dressing room from which he d
not emerge again for forty minute
He had taken the cramp in ;he stoms
and was compelled to leave tbs wat,
Pierson swan on and piled up lap al
lap. After making SO laps, Will
eqnalled mile and laps, he came Q
and exercised on the trapeze anu RIM
and taking an occasional slide IN
tobogRan He sat around for so
time, had hinsslf rubbed off, jump
ip,swam three or fou- more laps, a
came out.
Butler came opt and SWAN
more rounds but evidently IN pain,
finally he left the water, suffering W
leg cramps. The men both complain
of the cold condition OF the water. p
son shook when he came out Of 1t q
he bad the aaue, and Batter blames
cold for his cramps. To night the '
ter will be at . proper temperate
The evening contest closed with n
and five laps to the credit OF Piers
and 81 laps to the credit Of Butler.
Pierson will emit The contest to- nj
with more than half mile advant
over Butler. Thirty-three rounds
the pool or 66 times the length o
make mile. The attendance TO n
will no doubt be much larger than
light.